Byrds expert Tim Conners once described "So You Wanna Be A Rock 'n Roll Star" as "an acerbic, but good-natured swipe at the success of manufactured rock bands like..." who?

In an interview, Byrds guitarist Jim McGuinn said: "Some people have accused us of being bitter for writing that song, but it's no more bitter than 'Positively 4th Street'. In fact, it isn't as bitter as that. We were thumbing through a teen magazine and looking at all the unfamiliar faces and we couldn't help thinking: 'Wow, what's happening …'"

Asked by Tom Cohen · Last updated 5 years ago · 62.8K views